Experts warn parents to be vigilant about children’s relationships

CALGARY – Police say no one has come forward in Calgary in response to allegations of sexual abuse against a swim coach from Nova Scotia.

Donald Matt Carruthers will stand trial for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl he coached in the Maritimes. It took the victim several years to come forward to her parents and authorities.

Carruthers has been working in Calgary as a swim coach for the past eight years. Swim Alberta says all of his former clubs have been notified but there have been no further complaints made.

Experts say all parents need to be vigilant about who they allow to be in a position of trust with their children.

“We talk about a target rich environment where predators are looking for someone they can get access to and so whether it’s coaching or teaching, there are a lot of kids around,” says forensic psychologist Dr. Patrick Baillie.

“You can know about that child and the relationship they have with their parents and know if there’s an opportunity to target that vulnerability and take advantage of it.”

Carruthers will stand trial in Nova Scotia in November.